Flying-machine.



J. A. GOODWIN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

J. A. 'GOODWIDL.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1910.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

3 BHEET8-8HEBT 2.

J. A. eoon'wm.

FLYING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1910. 1,002,674. Pa en ed Sept. 5,1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented se als, 1911.

Application 111ml August 19,4910. Serial m5. $77,978.

. bility.

Another object of the invention is to provide means forv manually controlling the lateral balance and steering and banking the machine in making a turn, which means will counteract and prevent retardation of the machine on the long turning side without I the use of the ordinary vertical rudder.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a si tion as embodied in a heavier-than-air machine of the biplane type. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the supporting surfaces thereof with the equilibrium planes and control vanes arranged in normal position. Fig. 3 is a top lan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. ig. 4 is a fore and aft section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one end of the upper main plane, showing the equilibrium planes and associated control vane adjustedto operative position.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the/same. Fig.

7 is a longitudinal section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is .a top lan view of one end of the upper main p ane, showing a sli ht modification in the construction.

Vhi1e for purposes of illustration, I have shown my invention a plied to a biplane machine, it is to be un erstood that the essential features thereof may be embodied in other types of machines of the heavierthan-air klnd, and that the invention resides g the lateral de elevation of the invenstrictly the construction of the body of the machme,'-to' wit: the sup orting surface or surfaces and balancing devices applied thereto,'and that any type of propelling and steermg means, frame structure and skids or wheels or other launching and landing appurtenances may be employed.

Referring specificallyto the drawings, 1 v

designates the upper mam plane or supporting surface and 2 the lower main plane or sup orting surface of the biplanestructure disc osed, which planes are connected and spaced in the usual manner by the vertical stanehions or struts 3. These supporting planes or surfaces may be transversely curved in any known or desired way for the dynamic reactions of the air thereon for sustenation of the machine in fli ht.

In accordance with my invention, t e supporting surface .or surfaces are provided at the ends thereof with vertical panels or surfaces 4, which in the construction disclosed extend between and connect the proximate ends of the planes and also extend above and below the respective planes to provide marginal stationary stabilizing fins 5 and 6. In a monoplane structure the vertical surfaces may be arranged to form fins projecting above and below the ends of the single supporting plane. These vertical panels or surfaces operate to prevent lateral deflection of the machine from its course in the well-known way and to increase the lateral stability, which action is promoted to a more eflicient degree by the fins or extensions 5 and 6.

' Depending at intervals from the upper main; plane 1 are balancing fins 7, wh1ch are also. stationary and extend downward to the desired degree for a resisting action on the air to further increase the lateral stability of the machine. All of these intermedlate balancing fins 7 except the central balancin fin of the series, are preferably secure at their front and rear edges to the adjacent front and rear struts, the central fin being disposed on a line between the adjoining struts which are arranged on opposite sides of the central lon itudinal line of the machine to provide an cient intervening space for the mounting of the wardly and their upper shorter edges 14 pilots seat 8, motor 9 and related parts of the propelling mechanism. The seat 8 is preferably situated at or near the center of the front edge of the main lower plane 2, while the motor. 9 is situated at or near the center of the rear edge of said plane in order to lower the center of gravity as much as possible to further increase the stability of the machine.

' Each supporting plane is provided at each of its ends with one, or more openings 10 extending from front to rear thereof and adapted to receive a corresponding number of equilibrium win s, balancing planes or ailerons 11, each 0 which is of a size to snugly fit the receiving opening thereof when it, the wing, is ad]usted to closed position. Each wing is eccentrically pivoted to swing vertically upon a horizontal axis 12, shown in the form of a rod journaled at its ends in suitable bearings in the frame of the main plane and arran ed closer to the outer longitudinal edge 0% the win than l to the inner longitudinal edge thereo The 25 wings are curved to conform to the trans verse curvature of the main plane and nor mally, or when in closed position, form a part of the supporting surface of said plane. They are arranged so that their longer inner edges 13 will swing downwardly and outswing inwardly and upwardly when the wings are adjusted to an open position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, said edges being adapted to abut against stop strips 15 and 16 so as .to fully occupy and close the openings 10.

Each wing is provided with an upstanding arm 17 and the arms of the adjacent wings are coupled for movement in unison by a'suitable connection 18. The pairs or sets of wings at the opposite ends, of the machine are further connected for movement in unison by cords or other coupling elements 19, which are attached to the broad sides or edges of the respective wings. The arms of the inner wings of the lower plane 2 in a biplane structure, or the arms of the inner wings of the single supporting plane in a monoplane structure, are connected with the outer ends of controlling cords or other flexible connections 20 leadin ver 22 arranged adjacent to the pilot seat 8, suitable means being provided for locking said lever in adjusted position. When a simply slackens to permit of the movement of the lever so that the equilibrium wings atthe oppositesideof the machine will remainclosed or unaffected.

lies in the plane of the fin 5 over guide pulleys 21 to a suitable operating le- Forming part of each fin 5 is a control vane 23 which normally-occupies a recess 24 formedin the upper front corner of said fin. This vane is .pivoted at its forward end to swing upon a vertical axis 25 and is limited in its outward movement by a stop 26. When swung outwardly to its limit the vane part of the surface thereof. When swung inwardly the vane lies substantially at-an oblique angle to the line of flight to present a resisting surface to the action of the wind. Each vane is connected by a cord or link 27 with an arm 28 on the adjacent outer wing of the upper main plane, so that it will swinginwardly with unison with the wings when they As long as the wings are positively held by the lever into t'ilted'position they will remam open. and restored to normal position, the pres,- sure ofthe air upon the vane will return the vane and associated connected series of wings to closed position. In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, a bracket 29 is secured to the fin 5 and a contractile spring 30 is terminally connected with said bracket and the end of the vane, said spring'operating in conjunction with the pressure of the air to return the parts after actuation to normal position. The vertical surfacesv 4 operate to shield the opened equilibrium wings at either side of the machine from the pressure of cross currents of air, so that the wings will be subjected solely to the pressure of the currents of air traveling rearwardly across the main planes, whereby a positive act-ion of the air on the surfaces of the wings is insured and any tendency of lateral tilting through the pressure of cross currents .of air on the wings prevented.

and forms a are manually operated.

When the lever is released It Will be understood that in the opera- I tion of the wings to maintain lateral stability, the win s at the ascending side of the machine -w en the latter tilts will be opened through the manipulation of the actuating mechanism connected therewith, while the wings at the loweror descending side of themachine' will be allowed to remain closed, as a result of which the decrease in the area of the supporting surface at the high side will cause such side to drop and the machine to resume a nor- Inasmuch, however,

mal horizontal level.

as the blades when open stand edgewise at an angle to the line of travel and operate as fixed propeller blades tending to accelerate the forward speed of motion of the side of the machine at which the blades are open, it is desirable to provide means for retarding such-side of the machine at such time. To this-*end the vane 23 is provided for operation in conjunction with each set of wings,

and the associated vane may also be which vane when adjusted to open osition will operate as a win drag or brake, counteracting the propelling action of the wings and o ratin to prevent the forward motion of t e uptl ting side of the machine at a ater rate of speed than that of the downti ting side. Either set of wings emplo ed in an obvious manner for steering an banking the machine and ,making a turn without the necessit of ad'usting the vertical rudder, as will rea ily understood.

Within the scope of the invention the fins 7 may be arranged u on the underside of the lower plane as wel as u on the underside of the upper plane, alt oughit is believed that the lower end extensions of the vertical surfaces will sufliciently hold the lower lane from skidding.

Having thus described the invention, I

I claim stabilizing fin,

1. In a flying machine, a supporting surface having an aperture at each end, curved wings normally closing said apertures and forming a part of the supporting surface, said wings being pivotally mounted to swing vertically, a fin projecting. upwardly at each end of the supporting surface, laterally swinging vanes carried by said fins, means connecting each vane to move in mmson with the adjacent wing, and means for operating said wings.

2. In a flying machine, a supporting surface having a plurality of apertures at each end, an upwardly projecting stabilizing fin at each end, curved wings closing the apertures and normally forming a part of the supporting surface, connections between the adjacent wings to adapt them to movein unison, a laterally movable vane upon each a connection between said vane and the adjacent wings to adapt it to move in unison therewith, and means for operating the wings.

3. In a flying machine, a supporting surface having an aperture at each end, a panel at each end of the supporting surface forming stabilizing fins projecting above and below said surface, curved wings normally closing the apertures in the supporting surface and forming a part thereof, said wings being pivoted for vertical movement, laterally movable vanes supported by the upwardly projecting 'fins, a connection between each vane and the adjacent wing to adapt it to move in unison therewith, and

, means forv operating the wings.

. connecting 4. ,In a flying machine, a pair of superposed supporting surfaces, vertical panels the ends of said surfaces, said panels having fins extending above the uppersupporting surface and forming a part. of the upwardly projecting fins, fixed vanes depending from the upper supporting surface between the panels, and means for adjusting the movable vanes.

5. In a flying machine, a sup orting surface having an aperture at eac end, pivoted vertically movable wings normally closing said apertures, a laterally movable vane at each end of the supporting surface connected for movement in unison with the adjacent wing, and means for operating said wings.

6. In a flying machine, a su porting surface having an aperture at each end, a fixed upwardly projectin stabilizing fin adjacent said aperture, a aterall movable vane adapted to close within the plane of said fin,pivoted vertically movable wings normally closing said apertures, means for connecting each vane to the adjacent wing for movement in unison therewith, and means for operating the wings.

7 In a flying machine, a pair of superposed supporting surfaces having apertures at the ends thereof, vertical panels between the ends of said supporting surfaces, upper surface between the panels, pivoted vertically movable wings normally closing a series of fins depending from the the apertures, the wings at the respective adjacent ends of the supporting surfaces being connected for movement in unison, laterally movable vanes above and adjacent the ends of the upper supporting surfaces connected for movement in unison with the adjacent wings, and means for independently operating each set of wings and vanes.

8. In a flying machine, a pair of superposed supporting surfaces having apertures at the ends thereof, vertical panels between the ends of said supportin surfaces, said panels having fin extensions projecting above the upper vsupporting surface and below the low supporting surface, a series of fins depending from the upper surface between the panels, pivoted vertically movable wings normally closing the apertures, the wings at the respective adjacent ends of the supporting surfaces being connected for movement in unison, vanes, forming part of the upwardly projecting fin extensions of the panels, each vane being connected for movement in unison with the adjacent wings, and means for independently operating each set of wings and vanes.

9. In a flying machine, porting surfaces, aperture at each fins projecting upwardl upper supporting sur normally closing su erposed supeach provided with an elow the lower porting surfaces and forming a part theresupporting surface, inwardly, movable vanes of, said wings being pivotally mounted for laterally movable I end thereof, stabilizing movement in a vertical plane, a connection wings at the-opposite ends of the supportbetween the wings at each "end of the sup-- ing surfaces. 10 porting surfaces to adapt the same to move In testimonfy whereof I afix my signature 1n unison, a laterally movable vane supin presence 0 two-witnesses.

ported by each fin, a connection between the x A JOSEPH A. GOODWIN. same and the adjacent wings'to adapt it to Witnesses: move in unison, therewith, and means inde "HARVEY MELsoN, pendently operating the respective sets ,of ROY BRowfN. 

